Nuneaton Town 5 NFU (FAT 3Q)

This is not the scoreline that new owner Jamie Waltham would have been hoping for. Waltham has taken on the job of manager until a permanent manager can be found. Having seen the players perform, he will be even more aware of the task that faces him over the coming months.

In many ways, this was a similar performance to the one at Kidderminster on Tuesday, Ferriby were outplayed in the first-half and, once again, went in four goals down at the interval. Just as on Tuesday, the second-half performance was an improvement and the players regained a little pride but that is not enough.

Ferriby were largely outplayed in the first-half. The central defence had little answer to Nuneaton’s Ashley Chambers and Jordan Nicholson who ended the half with two goals apiece.

Headers from Jordan Cooke an Bobby Johnson, both off-target were Ferriby’s only goal attempts until Mason Warren hit a free-kick straight to keeper Dean Lyness just before half-time. By then, Nuneaton were three ahead.

The hom side took the lead after 16 minutes through Nicholson after Chambers squared the ball across the penalty area.

Three goals in seven minutes then settled the game. Ryan Beswick’s corner into the six-yard box was put home by Daniel Nti after 31 minutes. Two minutes ;ater Chambers’ shot wass deflected in for number three. The fourth goal was another saw Nicholson feed Chambers after another break.

Nuneaton had looked more comfortable on the ball and always[i] seemed to have players in a position to receive the ball.

To their credit, The Villagers gave a better second-hal performance, Joel Ambalu came on as a substitute and he and Jpe Pugh looked sharper up front.

With Simon Russell dropping into a more defensive midfield role, and with a tighter defence, Nuneaton had far less space and time than they did in the first-half.

The home side were regularly pushed back and were often glad t just clear their lines.

Ferriby went close in the opening minutes. Warren’s goalbound shot was deflected for a corner and then Nuneaton cleared off their line after the ball had come off two of their own defenders.

Chambers hit the bar for Nun eaton befor Callum Rzonca pulled a goal back. He scored from close range Lyness had parried an Ambalu shot.

The final goal in the last minute was academic. Nicholson scored with a low drive after a quick break.

Waltham was unhappy with some aspects odf the performance but he believeds there are positives to be taken from the game,

“We played a 4-4-2 formation because that demands accountability from the players. In the first-half we saw one of the worst centre-back partnership performances you will ever see. That cost us three of the goals.

“On the plus side, The players want to get the ball and play and we performed better in the second-half. The lads showed a good attitude and there were glimpses of quality. Callum Rzonca was impressive and he got our goal. Bobby Johnson also performed well once he started playing inside. Kojo Kyei also had a good game. Mason Warren is also a very good player.